Sacred Unions: A New Guide to Lifelong Commitment

by Thomas E. Breidental

Sacred Unions is a book about true love. By true love―or romance―the author refers to sexual passion that deepens into the permanent union of two persons in heart, body, and mind. The book is therefore addressed to all true straight or gay, deep into the adventure of a shared life or just contemplating it, or emerging out of a failed attempt. Lifelong union, Breidenthal asserts, is of central importance in all circumstances; and it remains a viable option for all of us, no matter who we are or what our story is.

Paperback

First published June 25, 2006

Reviews

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book as part of my preparation for my current sermon series "The Work of Love." I saw it at the Soul Desires bookstore display at the Annual Gathering of the Nebraska Conference.

The book is about "true love" in the Christian romantic tradition. It discusses various aspects of forming a marriage, including discussions of parenting and coping with loss. The book is inclusive of both opposite-sex and same-sex couples, with very nice discussions of some of the particular issues faced by the latter. The fundamental premise is that our love for our spouse is the most intense version of the love of neighbor that is our moral obligation, and that the love created in a marriage should open us up to and discipline us to become more loving toward others in the wider world.

The author is a little more traditional in his approach to some of these topics (such as his understanding of fidelity) than I have been in recent years, but it is a charitable and challenging ethic that I enjoyed reflecting upon. I was engaged by his prose style and the rich vocabulary of some traditional words. Here is a good example, "Worth is deeper than love, and come before it, because it is love's wellspring."

I can also imagine myself recommending this book to couples wanting some guidance in contemporary Christian approaches to marriage and parenting.

[Katherine Pershey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well. Hmm. Not a bad book on marriage, and I appreciated his care in crafting an inclusive Christian theology of relationship. But, I found myself rather unconvinced by the Christian Romanticism stuff- whether that's really the way to strengthen marriage. I also struggled with the question of audience - progressive mainline pastors so frequently flounder in their attempts to speak to broader audiences. Compared to a book like Tim Keller's The Meaning of Marriage, for instance, this book just doesn't have the same broad appeal. It presumes a highly educated, theologically literate, and socio-economically privileged reader. Still, it's a rare progressive and pastoral take on marriage, and I'm glad I read it.

[Jendi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Open and affirming theology of marriage as a primary means of learning to love our neighbor as ourselves. Marriage generates creative energy that spills over in service to others.